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Post by ghostrider on Apr 14, 2013 14:32:50 GMT -5
I've decided to build a riding ring behind and to the left of the horse corral. It's a perfect place and I only have to take down one of the huge oaks. SF is buying a new chainsaw, the store is out of the one he wants so it'll be this coming week. But the area is nice and although it's not quite flat it is close. And since it's between the corral and woods I should be able to use 8' logs or maybe RR ties. There are times when I don't feel like trail riding but I don't have an arena or RP. We used to have a riding ring and it was nice to ride in. Everyone needs a summer project right? ;D Does anyone have one? I'm thinking 60-65 foot sounds about right.
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Post by cyndi on Apr 14, 2013 17:13:39 GMT -5
My barn owner has given me permission to build a riding 'ring' this spring. Part of the front paddock (that hardly gets used) lies along the barn, and it's a nice spot to practice riding skills. It's probably about 70 feet long, and about 50 feet wide. I'm not 100% sure on that, though. It will be pretty basic/primitive, but at least it'll be something other than slippery clay or the road. I need to build up my confidence, and an enclosed area is the best place for me to do that right now.
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Post by ghostrider on Apr 14, 2013 20:07:23 GMT -5
Right now I have a make shift fence that runs from the left of my tack shed to the back adjoining woods which belong to the neighbor. The woods run the length of our property and he only has cows out there. So that fence needs to come down and get moved either back or forward because that is where the flattest part is. I tried riding our wooded side this afternoon and it's pretty sloped, not too much but too much to level without a backhoe. And you can't run a horse down hill! LOL There is just one tree that would need to come down though and one compost enclosure which can be moved.
Are you going to put in RR ties or anything to keep the sand in? I'd love to get some mulch to mix with the sand or sawdust but there are black walnut trees here so you can't be sure it's not mixed in. I'm wondering about manure? our old BO used to spread the manure in the arena and it was good ground.
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Post by cyndi on Apr 14, 2013 20:59:41 GMT -5
The area I'm going to make into a riding area is also a bit sloped, because it's next to the barn. The slope isn't bad, and I figure that if we trot, we can do that on the long lengths because they are flat. It's the short ends that you notice the slope. Funny, I just saw some arenas from Europe and they have woodchips as footing. That was the first time I'd ever seen woodchips used for that purpose. I know what you mean about not wanting black walnut in there. I know a couple of tree-trimming company owners, so I think I could get mulch for free...which would be nice. We also have some cedars around our yard that need to be trimmed badly. I think if we could find a way to get them to the barn and then rent a mulcher, we'd have plenty to mix with sand. Another thing some horse people use for their arenas around here is stone chips mixed with sand. I don't think I'll use RR ties or logs or anything. The ground is all clay, so bringing in sand is merely to offer a bit better footing for a longer season (right now it is hard as rock in the summer, and muddy in the spring). The barn owner fears that it'll be a waste of money because it's just a matter of time before it's all muddy again. I know this is not a one-time thing, so I'm prepared to haul in sand yearly until it kind of stays sandy. Any little bit has to help some, right? I took riding lessons at a barn that was fine with letting the horses poop in the arena because he said it helped the footing. Meanwhile, I was at another barn where the barn owner would charge you $20 if you used the arena and didn't pick up your horse's poop! That barn had a really high water table, so the sand was never dusty. It always looked like it had just been sprinkled with water like other places do to control dust. I'll see if I can post a photo of the area I will be making into a riding area. It runs the length of the barn, which I thought the barn owner once said was 70 feet. I've kind of measured the width by stepping it out, but I really can't remember how wide it is. Maybe you can get a bit of an idea by comparing Fanny to the open space. The area she's in might be smaller than the length of the barn, because I probably took the photo when I was using it as a dry lot, so I had it smaller.
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Post by MaryS on Apr 14, 2013 22:50:07 GMT -5
I saw an indoor arena made with rubber chips - no wires. It was neat to see. The chips were small enough to not be picked up by a manure fork. But you can't drag it, maybe it isn't needed.
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Post by ghostrider on Apr 15, 2013 10:35:10 GMT -5
Nice area and looks like a great size too. I don't plan on dragging mine either but sand is the easiest to get here.
Buddy tried taking out the fence where the ring will be, sometime this morning. I went out a bit ago to feed and he whickered at me. I look and he'd put his foot through the top square and had his leg all the way above his knee stuck. Lucky he didn't try fighting to get out. SF forgot to close the gate a couple nights ago and he pushed it open, when he couldn't push it open I think he decided to try and walk over the fence instead? I swear he's such a pain in the tushy! Will have to put extra t posts in tomorrow...UGH
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Post by cyndi on Apr 15, 2013 13:19:17 GMT -5
Mary, I was at an "Open House" at a Morgan farm and their arena had the shredded rubber footing. They love it. It doesn't have to be dragged, that I recall. It is heavy enough that the wind doesn't blow it around, and they rarely need to haul more in. It is VERY expensive, but I guess if a person can afford it it's a good thing. There was a faint rubber smell in the arena, but it wasn't offensive. During the shredding process, huge magnets pick up any and all pieces of wire from inside the recycled tires. It riles me when people are always telling you to recycle and so on, yet the recycled products, like the rubber footing, are always so costly. Harrumph Just venting.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2013 15:39:41 GMT -5
Cyndi...that area looks great! Here are my thoughts on make shift/make due riding arenas. ( I think I might be the queen of putting up make shift riding arenas...and I ain't bragging! LOL!! I have learned that a little slope isn't that bad of an idea. It causes the horse and rider to work to rate the horse's speed. I kind of like it now. Our farm has ZERO flat spots that don't have buildings on them! I always tease my hubby that his ancestors searched and searched for land that was not flat, and did they ever find it! LOL!! My current "arena" is dirt, and not completely level. I think I might have to move it this year, and if I do, I'm going with grass this time. I have a hard time getting anyone to work up my footing when I need it, so grass will be easier for me. My DD doesn't jump anymore, so grass will be fine. ( she hates jumping on grass) I have friends with an indoor, and their footing is rubber and sand. It's AWESOME. My favorite footing...bar none...is screenings. I love it. If I ever get to have a arena professionally done, it will have screenings for footing. All of that being said, I have gotten to the point where I can ride almost anywhere if it's safe. I love finding a spot in the field and doing canter circles, or just riding along the fence lines. I used to feel like I needed the arena fence, but now I don't. I'm telling you that, so that you will know that you won't always need it either. It feels soooo good to be enclosed when you are on a green horse, or you are nervous. My DD has a giant mare that she hasn't ridden in almost 3 years, and she needs a fenced in area...and I don't blame her one bit!! Some day I'll snap a picture of my current " arena". you will all laugh. It looks like someone is getting ready to plant their garden. And yet....I'm so thankful to have it!!
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Post by ghostrider on Apr 17, 2013 10:13:16 GMT -5
nana, my ring will not be fenced, it's going to have 8' logs on the ground in a circle but will be open . Haven't decided if the existing fence (separates pasture from our yard) will be moved back or forward as the flattest area is in line with out run in, and tack shed. Behind the run in and tack shed slopes pretty good which is why we put the run in and shed on the flattest part. I can't put the ring forward any further without moving my manure piles. I have three, oldest, old, newest. Although I could put it where the manure piles are and just take up the hog panels that separate the three compost piles? how much manure is too much for footing?
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Post by cyndi on Apr 17, 2013 19:39:12 GMT -5
Nana, I agree that having a slope isn't the worst thing in a riding ring. For a horse like Fanny, going up and down a small slope is good for fitness, and knowing where her feet are. Thanks for the encouragement about someday not needing an enclosed space to feel 'safe'. I know I'll get there Ghostrider, I like the idea of having separate manure piles. We just have the one at 'our' barn, which the barn owner sometimes spreads on the hayfields, but it'd be really nice to use some of the nice soft compost as footing. All the nice soft stuff at our barn is buried under the fresh stuff
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Post by ghostrider on Apr 18, 2013 10:50:57 GMT -5
The old stuff turns into what looks like black potting soil and we use it for the gardens. And the chickens are great at picking out all the weed seeds too.
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Post by ghostrider on Apr 21, 2013 19:08:26 GMT -5
Okay maybe I need a two part rail? thinking about making a 2x4 rail so I can free lunge Boomer! I've never lunged him with a line and he's needing a little tune up.
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Post by horsespoiler on Apr 29, 2013 23:35:12 GMT -5
We have decided to take part of our pasture and make an "arena" to play and work in. Our girls just need the idea of an enclosed area so we will be using 1 1/2" -2" PVC pipe at about 4' high. Unfortunately we can't afford the $10-20K for the footing so it will just have to be dirt/grass. We can put some fun obstacles in and practice side passes and gate work and SIP and transitions. We have been developing a new trail near the house but it still needs to dry a bit more. We are blessed to have access right out our gate to 100's of acres of woodlands. We found a new area to ride just a couple miles from the house but it requires riding some on a paved road(maybe 1/4 mi) and the rest on graveled roads, some with really big (2-3") gravel. Once you get there it goes off in meadows and old-growth forest with springs and creeks.
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Post by ghostrider on Apr 30, 2013 23:08:01 GMT -5
I told Walmart, "yes I want my old tires!" Gotta save them up for my obstacle course. Don't know about PVC, it tends to bend in the sunshine. But I did see someone online who'd made rails for a RP/arena out of some kind of vinyl for vinyl fencing. If I come across it again I'll post a link, it was inexpensive too.
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Post by cyndi on May 3, 2013 6:35:49 GMT -5
I'm interested in the PVC pipe you all are talking about, for the riding areas. Do you screw the pipes to each other? I've often thought of using PVC pipe over electric fence posts to use as bending poles, but haven't done it yet. Too many other things on my wish list
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